Nelson · Nelson Electricity
Power outages in Nelson
Power out in Nelson?
Call Nelson Electricity — not your power company.
0800 508 100Nelson Electricity's faults line, 24 hours.
This page does not show live outages. Nelson Electricity does not publish a public outage map we could confirm, so the faults line is the way to check what is out right now.
Downed line, sparking or fire? Call 111 first.
Stay at least 10 metres away and keep others back. Treat every fallen line as live.
Before you call
What to check first
- 1
Check your own switchboard first
Look at your main switch and RCD. If your neighbours have power and the streetlights are on, the fault is on your side of the connection and you need a registered electrician, not the lines company.
- 2
Switch off what the surge would damage
Unplug computers, TVs and heat pumps. Most appliance damage happens when supply comes back, not when it goes. Leave one light on so you know the moment it does.
- 3
Tell them if you are medically dependent
If someone in the house relies on mains power for medical equipment, register with your power company now rather than during an outage — networks treat registered customers as a restoration priority.
Your network
Who runs the lines in Nelson
- Lines company
- Nelson Electricity
- Faults line
- 0800 508 100
- Region
- Nelson
- Power prices
- What power costs in Nelson
You cannot choose your lines company — it is set by your address, and whichever power company you are with, the electricity arrives over the same wires. That is why a fault affects all of them equally, and why switching changes your bill but not your outages.
Power cuts in Nelson — common questions
Who do I call if the power is out in Nelson?
Nelson Electricity owns the lines in Nelson, and their faults line is 0800 508 100. Call them, not your power company: your retailer sells you the electricity but does not own the network, so they will only pass the report on. If you can see a downed line, sparking, or anything on fire, call 111 first and stay at least 10 metres away. Treat every fallen line as live.
Is there a power cut in Nelson right now?
This page does not show live outages. For what is out right now and when power is due back, use the distributor's own outage map or call their faults line. Nelson Electricity does not publish a public outage map, so their faults line on 0800 508 100 is the way to check. Before you call, flick your main switch and check whether your neighbours are out too. If it is only your property, the fault is likely inside it and a registered electrician is who you need.
Which lines company covers Nelson?
Nelson Electricity, in the Nelson (Nelson Electricity) network reporting region. Nelson is the only place we list on this network. You cannot choose your lines company. It is set by where you live.
Will switching power company stop outages in Nelson?
No. Whichever power company you are with in Nelson, the electricity arrives over the same Nelson Electricity network, so a fault affects everyone on it equally. What switching can change is the price of the energy and the service you get on the phone — not the poles and wires. On the pricing side, Nelson averages 38.78c per kWh including GST, of which 11.46c is Nelson Electricity's lines charge.
How long do power cuts in Nelson usually last?
There is no reliable general answer, and anyone giving you one is guessing. It depends on the cause. A blown fuse on a single street is usually restored in an hour or two, while storm damage across the Nelson region can take a day or more. Nelson Electricity publishes an estimated restoration time once crews have assessed the fault, and their faults line on 0800 508 100 will have it.
Switching won't stop outages. It can still cut your bill.
The lines charge is fixed by where you live. Everything on top of it is set by your power company — compare 8 of them and see what they offer at your address.
Compare power companiesAll power outage pages — faults numbers and outage maps for every lines company we could confirm.